Courtyard House: I Rely on Time-Space Trade to Build a Nation

dinner's ready.

The thick brown rice porridge was steaming hot, and the fist-sized white steamed buns were all snow-white and round, exuding an irresistible meaty aroma.

Under Zhao Ping'an's command, the soldiers lined up in several orderly rows.

Each person first receives a bowl of porridge so thick that chopsticks can stand upright in it, and a large steamed bun.

"Listen up, everyone!" Zhao Ping'an stood on the steps, his voice booming, "Steamed buns, one for everyone first! It's not that I'm stingy! We brothers have been starving for too long, our stomachs are too thin, we can't handle too much oil all at once!"

An hour later, if you still feel hungry or your stomach is fine, come and get a second one!

If anyone doesn't listen and gets sick from eating it, don't blame me for not warning you! Does everyone understand?

"Understood, Platoon Leader!" came the resounding reply, filled with gratitude and urgency.

One bite and your mouth is filled with oil; the sweet aroma of wheat flour and the salty freshness of pork blend together, making many soldiers almost swallow their tongues.

Some soldiers were eating juicy meat buns for the first time in their lives, and tears welled up in their eyes after the first bite.

The courtyard was filled with the sounds of people slurping porridge and eating steamed buns, interspersed with gasps of pain from being burned and satisfied sighs.

At this moment, all worries and fears seemed to be dispelled by this real warmth and fullness.

Zhao Ping'an took a steamed bun for himself, leaned against the door frame and ate it slowly. His gaze swept over the soldiers who were wolfing down their food, and finally landed on Zhao Desheng, who was eating and drinking in the corner.

Zhao Desheng felt his gaze, looked up at him, and then quickly lowered his head again, only slowing down his chewing.

After dinner, night had fallen. Several torches were lit in the courtyard.

Zhao Ping'an ordered everyone in the battalion who was still able to move to be gathered in the open space in front of the courtyard.

A dark mass of people, all wrapped in new cotton-padded clothes, though still pale and thin, had a light in their eyes, all gazing at Zhao Ping'an illuminated by the torchlight.

Zhao Ping'an cleared his throat and spoke. His voice wasn't particularly loud, but it was clear enough to reach everyone's ears:

"Brothers, how was that meal today?"

A cacophony of responses immediately erupted from below: "Good!" "The platoon leader is righteous!" "I've never tasted anything so delicious..."

Zhao Pingan raised his hand to quiet the room, and the scene fell silent.

"If it feels good, remember that feeling!" His gaze slowly swept across the area.

"I, Zhao Ping'an, am making this clear today:"

From now on, as long as I have food to eat, my brothers will definitely have food to eat too!

With me, Zhao Ping'an, wearing a cotton-padded coat, I'll never let my brothers go cold. See those coats?

This is the first batch of 100 pieces; everyone will take turns putting them on those on guard duty and patrol.

I'll go pick up the second batch tomorrow or the day after; I promise everyone will get a coat.

Hats, gloves, and cotton shoes—all brand new! We've provided everyone with everything!

I promise that from today onwards,

All the brothers who follow Zhao Guodong and Zhao Ping'an will never go hungry or cold again!

As long as they're brothers who share the same meals with me...

I will absolutely not treat everyone unfairly from now on; everything you eat, wear, and use will be provided for you.

"If you're injured and need medicine, I, Zhao Ping'an, will find a way!"

A stir ran through the crowd, filled with excitement and disbelief.

"But—" Zhao Ping'an's tone suddenly changed, becoming serious and cold.

"Now that we're well-fed and warmly clothed, we should also act like we're well-fed and clothed! We should have some basic human decency!"

He paused for a moment to make sure everyone was listening.

"In the past, when we were starving and freezing, perhaps some brothers would think of the villagers in the nearby villages..."

There were some less-than-ideal actions. But those are in the past, and I won't bring them up again today! This chapter is over!

From now on, I won't talk to you about those empty platitudes.

To be honest, the villagers here are not our enemies, they are our neighbors!

Do you think it's a good thing to offend your neighbors so badly?

Where will we find out any hints of trouble in the future?

If something happens, who will help us out?

When it comes to recruiting soldiers, who would dare send their sons here?

Zhao Ping'an paused for a moment, then looked at the many soldiers with their heads bowed. A warmth welled up in his heart; thankfully, there was still hope.

After all, no matter what, the eldest brother was Commander Fu's trusted subordinate, and he always received priority in terms of supplies.

Both brothers came from humble backgrounds and were quite kind-hearted.

Although his predecessor was a rogue soldier, at most he would take a 10% discount when buying and selling with civilians; he was only like that because he was desperate for money.

He usually kept his subordinates in check, and there was also Zhao Desheng, the third company commander who valued military discipline and was as strict as a member of our party!

Thinking of this, Zhao Ping'an continued speaking,

"Therefore, there are three rules, and you must memorize them all!"

"First, no stealing! If you want something from the villagers, like a piece of firewood or a vegetable, you have to exchange it fairly with money or other items!"

After a while, once everyone has enough to eat and wear, I will give you some extra things that you can exchange with your fellow villagers for other things…”

"Platoon leader, really?"

"Sir, really?"

……

Before Zhao Ping'an could finish speaking, shouts erupted from below: "After we've eaten and dressed well, you're still giving us things?"

"Quiet down, all of you, be quiet. If you don't believe me, I'll give you some right now. Dazhu, go and bring me that bag of snow salt. You'll each get two ounces of snow salt in a bit."

Zhao Ping'an simply took out the 200 yuan worth of refined salt he had exchanged. It was 1948, after all; this snow-white refined salt was a valuable commodity.

The 200 yuan was originally intended to last three months, which is a full 200 jin (100 catties). Liu Dazhu previously used some to exchange for other things, and now there are still over 180 jin (90 kg) left.

Seeing that the soldiers were "in high spirits," Zhao Ping'an decided to send some out first to set up a pillar at the gate and prove himself.

"Alright, Platoon Leader. Zhu Zi, Shuan Zi, come with me to get the snow salt." Liu Dazhu called out to the two men and they dashed off to the warehouse.

In the blink of an eye, several large bags of snowflake salt were displayed in front of the soldiers, causing them to crowd forward.

"We'll assign tasks after Platoon Leader Zhao speaks. For now, everyone stand in line. Anyone who causes trouble, I'll kill them!"

Zhao Desheng shouted loudly, which put an end to the scene.

After all, Zhao Desheng had always been in charge of discipline in the battalion; to be precise,

If it weren't for Zhao Dongliang saving Zhao Desheng's life twice during the War of Resistance against Japan,

Given Zhao Desheng's temperament, he might have already gone to surrender to the troops.

Although Zhao Desheng was not very popular in daily life, he always took the lead in battle, so everyone respected him.

The reason why he shouted to help Zhao Ping'an control the situation was mainly because what Zhao Ping'an said was exactly what he had always wanted to do.

"Okay, I'll continue what I was saying earlier. I've given everyone the food and clothing. So, what about the future?"

Anyone who dares to reach out with their hands, I'll chop off their hands!

After Zhao Ping'an saw that the soldiers had quieted down, he continued to speak.

"Second, you are not allowed to bully ordinary people! Especially women and daughters, keep your 'two ounces of flesh' out of your pants!"

If anyone can't control their way and causes trouble, don't blame the ruthless military law!

You all know who my brother is. If you push me too far, I'll kill you all, and he can't do anything about it!

"Third, learn to be polite! If you meet someone from your hometown on the road, don't give them a hard time."

If someone is in trouble, lending a hand is no trouble at all.

Only by establishing good relationships can we truly put down roots and have a foothold here!

"Anyone who thinks they're just wasting their time breaking these rules—"

Zhao Ping'an's voice was as cold as the winter wind.

"That's simple. Get out of my mess corps, find your own food, and fend for yourself!"

I, Zhao Ping'an, will not harbor troublemakers, nor will I implicate my brothers who uphold the rules!

"Did you all hear me clearly?!"

After a brief silence, a thunderous response followed: "Understood, Platoon Leader!"

The flickering firelight reflected the soldiers' varied expressions: some were solemn, some were thoughtful, some were indifferent but dared not show it, and most were accepting and agreeing.

Zhao Ping'an knew that the rules had been established and the seeds had been sown.

Next, he would watch it take root, sprout, and grow into the shape he needed in this chaotic world.

He looked up towards the camp. His older brother, Zhao Dongliang, should be back soon.

But I have something else to do before that.